Bipolar plate having a polymeric coating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017092962-A1
Application number	US-201615271330-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Mar 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is direct to a bipolar plate of an electrochemical cell. The bipolar plate may have a frame and a base. The bipolar plate may also have a polymeric coating applied to at least one of the frame and the base. The present disclosure is also directed to a method of assembling a bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell. The method may include compressing a frame and a base of the bipolar plate, at least one of the frame and the base has a polymeric coating. The polymeric coating may be an electrical insulator for the electrochemical cell, a seal for sealing one or more zones of the electrochemical cell, and a corrosion protection later of the electrochemical cell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell, comprising:
a frame and a base; and a polymeric coating applied to at least one of the frame and the base.

2 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating is an electrical insulator within the electrochemical cell.

3 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating forms a seal within the electrochemical cell when compressed.

4 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating is a corrosion protection layer.

5 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating is at least two of the following:
an electrical insulator of the electrochemical cell; a seal within the electrochemical cell; and a corrosion protection layer.

6 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating is:
an electrical insulator of the electrochemical cell; a seal within the electrochemical cell; and a corrosion protection layer.

7 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating includes fluoropolymers and reinforcing binders.

8 . The bipolar plate of claim 3 , wherein the seal forms by compressing the bipolar plate to a pressure greater than or equal to the yield strength of the polymeric coating.

9 . The bipolar plate of claim 8 , wherein the bipolar plate and the polymeric coating are compressed at least to between about 4,000 psi to about 15,000 psi.

10 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric coating ranges from about 0 . 005 inches to about 0 . 0015 inches thick.

11 . The bipolar plate of claim 1 , wherein the frame and base are separate components and the polymeric coating is applied only to the frame.

12 . A method of assembling a bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell, comprising:
compressing the bipolar plate, wherein the bipolar plate includes a frame and a base, and at least one of the frame and the base has a polymeric coating; wherein the polymeric coating is:
an electrical insulator for the electrochemical cell;
a seal within the electrochemical cell; and
a corrosion protection layer.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric coating forms the seal when the frame and the base are compressed, thereby compressing the polymer coating to a pressure greater than or equal to the yield strength of the polymeric coating.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the polymeric coating is compressed at least to between about 4,000 psi to about 15,000 psi.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further including applying the polymeric coating to the frame, wherein the frame and base are separate components and the thickness of the polymeric coating ranges from about 0.005 inches to about 0.0015 inches thick.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric coating includes fluoropolymers with reinforcing binders.

17 . A bipolar plate of an electrochemical cell, consisting essentially of:
a frame and a base; and a polymeric coating; wherein the polymeric coating is:
an electrical insulator of the electrochemical cell;
a seal of the electrochemical cell; and
a corrosion protection later.

18 . The bipolar plate of claim 17 , wherein the polymeric coating forms the seal when the frame and the base are compressed, thereby compressing the polymer coating to a pressure greater than or equal to the yield strength of the polymeric coating.

19 . The bipolar plate of claim 18 , wherein the bipolar plate and the polymeric coating are compressed at least to between about 4,000 psi to about 15,000 psi.

Assignees

• Nuvera Fuel Cells Llc

Inventors

• Van Boeyen Roger

Classifications

• H01M8/0228

  in the form of layered or coated products · CPC title

• H01M8/0221 Primary

  Organic resins; Organic polymers · CPC title

• H01M8/0284

  Organic resins; Organic polymers · CPC title

• H01M8/0202 Primary

  Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors · CPC title

• H01M8/0273

  with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame · CPC title